FLU HITS HAWAII

By Pani Shoja, MD
Medical Director – Urgent Care Hawaii

Pani Shoja, MD

NEWS:Because the vaccine takes two weeks to protect its recipient—and three weeks is more effective—health officials and the public need to stay ahead of the virus. The CDC bases its recommendations on when flu infections are likely to become common, this year recommending people aim to get the vaccine by the end of October.

Did you know that the rate of death from flu and pneumonia in Hawaii is one of the highest states in the nation? The best flu prevention is vaccination. Come in to any Urgent Care Hawaii location and get yourself and your family vaccinated today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:

Optimally, vaccination should occur before onset of influenza activity in the community.

Children aged 6 months through 8 years who require 2 doses should receive their first dose as soon as possible after vaccine becomes available, and the second dose ≥4 weeks later.

News: Not all schools will be offering flu shots this year. On Oahu, the program will be made available to selected public schools. Stop Flu at School, which provides free flu shots to students in kindergarten through eighth grade, will no longer be offered in private schools.